Celebrity designer Hilary Farr loves playing the villain. No, we’re not talking about her relationship with co-host David Visentin on the hit show Love It Or List It. It’s her latest role as the evil fairy Malignicent in Ross Petty’s production of Sleeping Beauty that has her basking in the boooos at the historic Elgin Theatre in Toronto.

Not that Farr is new to stage work. In her early years she toured the world as a professional dancer and appeared in numerous London productions, including two runs of Grease. If you look hard enough, you’ll spot her in the original Rocky Horror Picture Show, too.

But today she’s taking a break from casting evil spells, inflicting her “dark designs” on the kingdom of Torontonia and generally making life miserable for Sleeping Beauty. We’re up to something a little more earthly – running errands in a snow-white 2016 Range Rover HSE Td6 that carries an as-tested sticker of $131,515.

I’m looking for Farr’s design critique on this posh icon of British mobility, and really, what vehicle could be more suitable? The Range Rover is nearly as big as a house and its exquisitely crafted interior sports the finest leathers, woods and metal accents. And speaking of accents, Hilary’s creamy British delivery lends unassailable class to everything that escapes her lips. With just a dollop of mischief.

Case in point: On observing the Rangie’s rotary shift knob that rises Phoenix-like from the centre console on start-up, she notes, “Oh, we’ve got a little phallic thing going on here already.” Off to a good start, then.

Farr’s critical eye scans the cabin and initial impressions are favourable. “For me, good design is as much about aesthetics as practicality.” She likes the elegant, logical dash layout and finds the heated/ventilated front seats supremely comfortable. The height-adjustable centre armrests get a thumbs up, too. “I love the fact that it’s so bright and airy in here.”

Hilary Farr and 2016 Range Rover Td6 in Toronto

I explain to Hilary that this is very much a function of the Range Rover’s bona fide off-road credentials: “Notice we are sitting up high.” Visibility is key when negotiating tough terrain. As such, it has a very tall greenhouse and low beltline, and the front corners are always visible – essential for crawling up rocky paths, jungle trails and, most importantly, sliding into that parking spot at the Yorkdale Mall.

Farr expands on this. “Growing up in London, this is what Range Rover meant to me: country ladies pulling up to Harrods or Fortnum and Mason’s, hopping out wearing wellies and their Barbour coats. And it seems it was always raining in England. They were a staple of the upper crust country set. I kept up with some hardy boyfriends with Range Rovers, too.”

Our Range Rover Td6 conquers the mean holiday streets of Toronto with aplomb. Granted, there’s not a lot of sport in this ute as steering is pretty vague and it shows some real nautical-grade listing when pressing through corners. But by all the Lords in London, the Td6’s standard air suspension delivers a marvelously smooth ride, even on these optional $4,200 Gloss Black 22-inch wheels. And so chivalrous – the Range Rover sinks to its lowest setting when moored, enabling easy ingress and egress.

This tester’s interior is rendered in all black, which, as I mention to Farr, is bit of a shame as I’ve seen these with cream-coloured leather that highlights the design and significantly ramps up the elegance. “Yes,” she concurs. “I wouldn’t do all black. It’s a bit of a man cave in here.”

This fourth-generation Range Rover has been with us since 2012 and its blocky interior architecture is holding up well, although some elements are showing their age. The central digital gauge cluster is not state-of-the-art crisp, and the infotainment touchscreen is clunky and slow to respond. Poking away at a recalcitrant screen is just so … bothersome. The complaints pretty much stop there. The optional 825-watt Meridian audio ($1,900) is truly wonderful, massaging the ears with clear, even and uncoloured sound.

2016 Range Rover HSE Td6

Peter Bleakney, Driving

2016 Range Rover HSE Td6

Peter Bleakney, Driving

2016 Range Rover HSE Td6

Peter Bleakney, Driving

2016 Range Rover HSE Td6

Peter Bleakney, Driving

2016 Range Rover HSE Td6

Peter Bleakney, Driving

2016 Range Rover HSE Td6

Peter Bleakney, Driving

2016 Range Rover HSE Td6

Peter Bleakney, Driving

2016 Range Rover HSE Td6

Peter Bleakney, Driving

“I suppose this thing sucks back the gas,” says Farr as we cruise in imperious comfort along Queen Street West. Ah, I’ve been waiting for this moment. Just like on Love It or List It, I get to do the Big Reveal. “This thing gets really good fuel mileage – currently 9.4 L/100 km. It’s a diesel!” I blurt.

Farr didn’t actually scream and do cartwheels, but I think she was surprised, as this turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel is remarkably smooth and quiet. At idle there’s a hint of clatter, but once underway you’d be hard pressed to know there’s an oil-burner under the long bonnet. As with all turbodiesel powerplants, the torque does the talkin’ here, with 440 lb.-ft. on board from 1,750 rpm.

Now it’s Farr’s turn to get behind the wheel. She warns me that Sleeping Beauty co-star Paul Constable won’t drive with her any more “because I’m a bit crazy.” Yikes. I will say this: Farr is not afraid to poke the Rangie’s stately snout deep into the traffic fracas, parting the proletariat like Moses did the Red Sea. Impressive, and just a bit nail-bitey. We soon escape the clutches of Queen West and head back to her uptown digs.

My suspicions that the Range Rover and Hilary Farr would be a good fit prove true. She effortlessly melds into the upper-crust experience, her posh accent the icing on the scone. Yes, there are a few niggles for her. The touchscreen is a bit too far for her reach and she’s not big on the $2,100 Black Package that festoons the exterior aluminum flanks with gloss black trim and door handles. But that’s not enough to sway her. “I love it,” she says. Have we heard that somewhere before? And here’s that hint of mischief again: “I just need to find a sugar daddy to buy me one.”